Patents by Inventor Charles A. Francis

Charles A. Francis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9360594
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses having a high water content are described. The lenses are derived from a polymerizable composition including a first siloxane monomer represented by formula (1): wherein m of formula (1) represents one integer from 3 to 10, n of formula (1) represents one integer from 1 to 10, R1 of formula (1) is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and each R2 of formula (1) is independently either a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; the lenses also include units derived from a second siloxane monomer having a number average molecular weight of at least 7,000 daltons, and at least one vinyl-containing cross-linking agent. The lenses have average equilibrium water contents from about 30% wt/wt to about 70% wt/wt when fully hydrated. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Yuwen Liu, Charlie Chen, Ye Hong, Charles A. Francis, Li Yao, Arthur Back
  • Patent number: 9296159
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses that are derived from a polymerizable composition including at least one siloxane monomer and at least one hydrophobic ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate-containing monomer, or at least one hydrophilic vinyl ether-containing monomer, or both, wherein, when the at least one hydrophobic ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate-containing monomer is present in the polymerizable composition, it is present in an amount of from 1 to 20 unit parts by weight, and when the at least one hydrophilic vinyl ether-containing monomer is present in the polymerizable composition, it is present in an amount of from 1 to 20 unit parts by weight, are described. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Ying Zheng, Yuan Xu, Junhao Ge, Charles A. Francis, Yuan Sun, Yuwen Liu, Charlie Chen, Ye Hong, Hongjin Qiu, Li Yao, Arthur Back
  • Patent number: 9217813
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are formed from the reaction product of a polymerizable composition comprising at least one acrylate-containing siloxane monomer, at least one hydrophilic vinyl-containing monomer, and at least one vinyl-containing cross-linking agent. The contact lenses have ophthalmically-acceptable ionoflux values and surface wettability, and can be manufactured without the use of volatile organic solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Yuwen Liu, Junhao Ge, Charlie Chen, Yuan Xu, Li Yao, Arthur Back, Charles A. Francis
  • Patent number: 9057822
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses that are derived from a polymerizable composition including a first siloxane monomer represented by formula (3): wherein m of formula (3) represents one integer from 3 to 10, n of formula (3) represents one integer from 1 to 10, R1 of formula (3) is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and each R2 of formula (3) is independently either a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and at least one vinyl ether-containing cross-linking agent are described. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described. In one example, the batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses are dimensionally stable, and the method of making is a method of making dimensionally stable silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Yuwen Liu, Ye Hong, Junhao Ge, Yuan Xu, Charlie Chen, Charles A. Francis, Li Yao, Arthur Back
  • Patent number: 8865929
    Abstract: A method for preparing a polymerizable monomer-dye compound is provided in which a monomer, a reactive dye, and base are combined under substantially anhydrous reaction conditions to form the polymerizable monomer-dye compound, wherein the monomer comprises a pendant reactive group that covalently links to the reactive dye to form the monomer-dye compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Yuan Xu, Charlie Chen, Charles A. Francis, Shane Mao, Hong Xue, Xining Zhang
  • Patent number: 8865789
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses that have good dimensional stability, are ophthalmically-acceptable, and can be manufactured without the use of alcohol solvents are formed from the reaction product of a polymerizable composition comprising at least one mono-functional acrylate-containing siloxane monomer having a molecular weight of less than 2,000; at least one bi-functional acrylate-containing siloxane monomer having a molecular weight of at least 3,000; and at least one hydrophilic vinyl-containing monomer, wherein the polymerizable composition has a molar ratio of total amount of mono-functional acrylate-containing siloxane monomer to total amount of bi-functional acrylate-containing siloxane monomer of at least 30:1, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Li Yao, Ye Hong, Yuwen Liu, Charlie Chen, Charles A. Francis, Arthur Back
  • Patent number: 8820928
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are produced without using volatile organic solvents to extract materials from the polymerized contact lens bodies, and instead are washed with aqueous liquids. The silicone hydrogel contact lenses so produced have ophthalmically wettable lens surfaces such that less than five percent of a batch of twenty or more such silicone hydrogel contact lenses have visually identifiable non-wetting spots when the contact lenses are located on eyes of subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Arthur Back, David Robert Morsley, Richard Rogers, Sarah Almond, Charlie Chen, Yuwen Liu, Charles A. Francis, Ye Hong
  • Publication number: 20140200287
    Abstract: A method for preparing a polymerizable monomer-dye compound is provided in which a monomer, a reactive dye, and base are combined under substantially anhydrous reaction conditions to form the polymerizable monomer-dye compound, wherein the monomer comprises a pendant reactive group that covalently links to the reactive dye to form the monomer-dye compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventors: Yuan Xu, Charlie Chen, Charles A. Francis, Shane Mao, Hong Xue, Xining Zhang
  • Patent number: 8658748
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses having ophthalmically acceptable levels of energy loss are described. The lenses are derived from a polymerizable composition including a first siloxane monomer represented by formula (1): wherein m of formula (1) represents one integer from 3 to 10, n of formula (1) represents one integer from 1 to 10, R1 of formula (1) is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and each R2 of formula (1) is independently either a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; the lenses also include units derived from a second siloxane monomer which is a dual-end methacrylate end-capped polydimethylsiloxane having a number average molecular weight of at least 7,000 daltons. The average energy loss of the silicone hydrogel contact lenses is from about 30% to about 45% when the lenses are fully hydrated. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Ronghua Liu, Xinfeng Shi, Yuwen Liu, Charlie Chen, Ye Hong, Charles A. Francis, Li Yao, Arthur Back, Ying Zheng
  • Patent number: 8658747
    Abstract: Ophthalmically acceptably wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses are described. The lenses are derived from a polymerizable composition including a first siloxane monomer represented by formula (1): wherein m of formula (1) represents one integer from 3 to 10, n of formula (1) represents one integer from 1 to 10, R1 of formula (1) is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and each R2 of formula (1) is independently either a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, the first siloxane monomer having a number average molecular weight of from 400 daltons to 700 daltons; and a second siloxane monomer having a number average molecular weight greater than 7,000 daltons; wherein a total amount of siloxane monomers present in the polymerizable composition is from 30 unit parts to 50 unit parts; the lenses also include units derived from at least one hydrophilic amide monomer having one N-vinyl group that is present in the polymerizable composition in an amount from 30 to 60 unit parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Yuwen Liu, Charlie Chen, Charles A. Francis, Junhao Ge, Yuan Xu, Li Yao, Arthur Back, Ying Zheng
  • Publication number: 20140049746
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are formed from the reaction product of a polymerizable composition comprising at least one acrylate-containing siloxane monomer, at least one hydrophilic vinyl-containing monomer, and at least one vinyl-containing cross-linking agent. The contact lenses have ophthalmically-acceptable ionoflux values and surface wettability, and can be manufactured without the use of volatile organic solvents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Yuwen Liu, Junhao Ge, Charlie Chen, Yuan Xu, Li Yao, Arthur Back, Charles A. Francis
  • Publication number: 20140018465
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses having a high water content are described. The lenses are derived from a polymerizable composition including a first siloxane monomer represented by formula (1): wherein m of formula (1) represents one integer from 3 to 10, n of formula (1) represents one integer from 1 to 10, R1 of formula (1) is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and each R2 of formula (1) is independently either a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; the lenses also include units derived from a second siloxane monomer having a number average molecular weight of at least 7,000 daltons, and at least one vinyl-containing cross-linking agent. The lenses have average equilibrium water contents from about 30% wt/wt to about 70% wt/wt when fully hydrated. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: COOPERVISION INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, LP
    Inventors: Yuwen Liu, Charlie Chen, Ye Hong, Charles A. Francis, Li Yao, Arthur Back
  • Publication number: 20140016086
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses that are derived from a polymerizable composition including a first siloxane monomer represented by formula (3): wherein m of formula (3) represents one integer from 3 to 10, n of formula (3) represents one integer from 1 to 10, R1 of formula (3) is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and each R2 of formula (3) is independently either a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and at least one vinyl ether-containing cross-linking agent are described. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described. In one example, the batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses are dimensionally stable, and the method of making is a method of making dimensionally stable silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Yuwen Liu, Ye Hong, Junhao Ge, Yuan Xu, Charlie Chen, Charles A. Francis, Li Yao, Arthur Back
  • Publication number: 20140009735
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses that are derived from a polymerizable composition including at least one siloxane monomer and at least one hydrophobic ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate-containing monomer, or at least one hydrophilic vinyl ether-containing monomer, or both, wherein, when the at least one hydrophobic ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate-containing monomer is present in the polymerizable composition, it is present in an amount of from 1 to 20 unit parts by weight, and when the at least one hydrophilic vinyl ether-containing monomer is present in the polymerizable composition, it is present in an amount of from 1 to 20 unit parts by weight, are described. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Ying Zheng, Yuan Xu, Junhao Ge, Charles A. Francis, Yuan Sun, Yuwen Liu, Charlie Chen, Ye Hong, Hongjin Qiu, Li Yao, Arthur Back
  • Publication number: 20130255192
    Abstract: Ophthalmically acceptably wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses are described. The lenses are derived from a polymerizable composition including a first siloxane monomer represented by formula (1): wherein m of formula (1) represents one integer from 3 to 10, n of formula (1) represents one integer from 1 to 10, R1 of formula (1) is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and each R2 of formula (1) is independently either a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, the first siloxane monomer having a number average molecular weight of from 400 daltons to 700 daltons; and a second siloxane monomer having a number average molecular weight greater than 7,000 daltons; wherein a total amount of siloxane monomers present in the polymerizable composition is from 30 unit parts to 50 unit parts; the lenses also include units derived from at least one hydrophilic amide monomer having one N-vinyl group that is present in the polymerizable composition in an amount from 30 to 60 unit parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Yuwen Liu, Charlie Chen, Charles A. Francis, Junhao Ge, Yuan Xu, Li Yao, Arthur Back, Ying Zheng
  • Publication number: 20130261216
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses having ophthalmically acceptable levels of energy loss are described. The lenses are derived from a polymerizable composition including a first siloxane monomer represented by formula (1): wherein m of formula (1) represents one integer from 3 to 10, n of formula (1) represents one integer from 1 to 10, R1 of formula (1) is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and each R2 of formula (1) is independently either a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; the lenses also include units derived from a second siloxane monomer which is a dual-end methacrylate end-capped polydimethylsiloxane having a number average molecular weight of at least 7,000 daltons. The average energy loss of the silicone hydrogel contact lenses is from about 30% to about 45% when the lenses are fully hydrated. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Ronghua Liu, Xinfeng Shi, Yuwen Liu, Charlie Chen, Ye Hong, Charles A. Francis, Li Yao, Arthur Back, Ying Zheng
  • Patent number: 8513325
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are produced without using volatile organic solvents to extract materials from the polymerized contact lens bodies, and instead are washed with aqueous liquids. The silicone hydrogel contact lenses so produced have ophthalmically wettable lens surfaces. The hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lenses have diameters that are at least 24% larger than the diameters of the silicone hydrogel contact lenses prior to hydration or washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Yuwen Liu, Charlie Chen, Ye Hong, Charles A. Francis, Li Yao, Arthur Back
  • Patent number: 8487058
    Abstract: Ophthalmically acceptably wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses are described. The lenses are derived from a polymerizable composition including a first siloxane monomer. The lenses have ophthalmically acceptably wettable lens surfaces when fully hydrated. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Yuwen Liu, Charlie Chen, Charles A. Francis, Junhao Ge, Yuan Xu, Li Yao, Arthur Back, Ying Zheng
  • Patent number: 8481662
    Abstract: Silicone hydrogel contact lenses having ophthalmically acceptable levels of energy loss are described. The lenses are derived from a polymerizable composition including a first siloxane monomer represented by formula (1): wherein m of formula (1) represents one integer from 3 to 10, n of formula (1) represents one integer from 1 to 10, R1 of formula (1) is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and each R2 of formula (1) is independently either a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; the lenses also include units derived from a second siloxane monomer which is a dual-end methacrylate end-capped polydimethylsiloxane having a number average molecular weight of at least 7,000 daltons. Batches of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and methods of making silicone hydrogel contact lenses are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Ronghua Liu, Xinfeng Shi, Yuwen Liu, Charlie Chen, Ye Hong, Charles A. Francis, Li Yao, Arthur Back, Ying Zheng
  • Patent number: 8445614
    Abstract: Dimensionally stable silicone hydrogel contact lenses are described. The lenses are derived from a polymerizable composition including a first siloxane monomer represented by formula (1): wherein m of formula (1) represents one integer from 3 to 10, n of formula (1) represents one integer from 1 to 10, R1 of formula (1) is an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and each R2 of formula (1) is independently either a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; the lenses also include units derived from a second siloxane monomer represented by formula (2): wherein R1 of formula (2) is selected from either hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2 of formula (2) is selected from either of hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; m of formula (2) represents an integer of from 0 to 10; n of formula (2) represents an integer of from 4 to 100; a and b represent integers of 1 or more; a+b is equal to 20-500; b/(a+b) is equal to 0.01-0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Charles A. Francis, Ying Zheng, Yuan Xu, Li Yao, Arthur Back, Ye Hong, Charlie Chen